Baird Iowa Open

The Baird Iowa Open was contested in Cedar Rapids this past weekend.  Kohawk Tennis was a factor.

Both the Men's and Women's Open Doubles finals were ALL COE!  Curtis Newman ('13) paired with Scott Stegemann ('11) to defeat Jeff Damisch ('14) and Mike Woolf ('14) in the final.  Newman and Stegemann defeated Tom Jennings ('08) and Rusty Graff ('93) in the semi-final, while Woolf/Damisch knocked off top seeded and fellow IIAC coaches, Matt Tyler (Wartburg) and Patrick Cote (Cornell; now part of the Midwest Conference).

I paired with Molly Garber (Fiala '09) to top Jackie Pedersen (standout freshman for us this past year) and Laura Birky ('16) in the final.

As always, the Fiala family was in full swing over the weekend.  Dad, Mark, once again did a great job serving as the tournament director!  Mom, Mary, paired with Lin Driscoll (mother to Lindsay Driscoll, '07), in Women's Open Doubles.  Experience prevailed as they defeated Jordan Ferree ('15) and Elizabeth Hoffmann ('14) in a battle; whilst Megan Fiala ('10) and Lindsay sat courtside calculating the fact that their mothers more than tripled the age of their foes.  Mary and Lin then played Molly and I in the semi-final.  Lin asked Megan for advice during the match...."Don't hit it to them." Megan also paired with older sister, Mindy, to compete in Open Doubles.

Megan watched my daugther, Emmie, during the Open Doubles final.  Emmie later asked me if it was okay that Megan had given her Rice Christmas Treats.

The Mixed Open Doubles Final also had Coe grads on each side of the net.  Molly Fiala and Tom Jennings defeated Phil Williams ('04) and Tiffany Earl.

I played both Birky and Pedersen en route to the Open Singles Final, where I was defeated by Heather Fleming.  Heather and her husband, BJ, recently took 3rd at Husband-Wife Mixed Doubles Nationals (they have won the title in years past).

Jennings also represented Coe in the Men's Open final; losing to Tyler.  Damisch, Alex Klaas ('14), and Newman each advanced to the quarters, and Riley Galbraith ('16) the semi.  Jennings knocked off both Klaas and Galbraith in third set tiebreakers.

Thanks to Betty Damisch, we of course have more pictures for you also!  The third picture above is so typical of Klaas, is it not?  Many other members of the Coe family were part of the event.  Thanks to all for making it an enjoyable weekend of tennis and fun!